Starting point

You get there from Olsztyn by bus going to Mrągowo or by AS-TOUR's van from parking lot in Krutyñ.

Short trail description

Krutynia is one of the most beautiful lowland trails in Europe of great natural variation, passes though Pisz Forest, behind Mokre Lake and flows into Masuria Landscape Park.

Along 102 km, of which 60 km are still waters, you can see many wonders from astonishing red algae stones in crystal clear waters to eagles sparing above. The tour starts in Sorkwity at Lampackie Lake. There you can visit an evangelic church built around 1470 and a palace of the von Mirbach family built 1850-56.

First you pass through Lampackie and Lampasz lakes to a shallow part of the Krutynia called Sobiepanka and awords the campsite at Bia³e Lake in Bieñki. Further along the Krutynia you will see awe inspiring nature. In Królewska Sosna nature reserve you encounter a 500-year-old oak and the most ancient pine tree in the region. Between Krutyñskie Lake and Ukta is the most beautiful part of the trail attracting many tourists from afar in flat boats pushed by local raftsmen. On the way to Ukta you can visit an othrodox monastery in Wojnowo. And a few days leter, after passing the Guzianka Sluice our adventure comes to an end. Ouer new site in German Kanu Krutynia.

MORE INFORMATIONS ABOUT THE GUIDED TOURS

Our guided kayak trucks take place in the group’s of about 25 -35 people. The participants are polish students and young families with children, many of them speaks English, our guide can English as well. So, the guided tour is the best way to make the new friends from Poland.

The tour can be canceled, if there are less than 15 participants.

We can also organise guided tours in other therms for groups over 15 persons.

We provide the participants with:

• 7 nights on the camp sites (shower extra charge)
• 2 x dinner by the bonfire (sausages)
• Transportation of the luggage during the kayak tour
• Kayaks with all the necessary equipment
• English speaking guide
• All fees and entrances
• Map

Take with:

• tent
• sleeping bag
• waterproof jacket
• Cooker
• dish/cutlery
• torch
• matress

We also rent:

• tent for 3 people- 25 EUR
• tent for 2 people- 20 EUR
• cooker - 19 EUR
• matress 15 EUR

Arrival: on your costs
Board: self-catering
Insurance: only for EU residents

STARTING POINT IN SORKWITY

You can get there from Olsztyn by bus or train going to Mrągowo. You can get to the camp site from the railway station on foot, it's only 800m. If you are coming by car, you will be brought to Sorkwity from the AS-TOUR's parking space in Krutyn by our van.

RESIGNATION FROM THE TOUR

1. 21 days befor the tour beginns- full repaymen
2. from 20 to 7 days befor the trip - repayment of 50%
3. less than 7 days - no repayment

Programme of the kayaking trip down the Krutynia river.

Day 1

The trip guide awaits the participants in Sorkwity at 7.00 p.m. Tent pitching. In the evening there will be a welcoming party by the bonfire (menu: bread and sausages are provided by the event organizer).

Day 2: Sorkwity–Bieńki (16 km)

Our kayaking adventure starts in Sorkwity, on the Lake Lampackie. Along with magnificent and wild nature, you should also pay attention to the palace in Sorkwity (built in 1788), which is located to the left of the river mouth, right where you enter the lake. Go across the Lake Lampackie heading towards the right shore. Behind the second peninsula there is an entrance to the cove, a bit hidden in the reeds. The cove will impress you with its calmness on the usually pretty windy lake. Go through the reeds until you reach Lake Lampasz. The lake is a bit longer but narrower than the previous one, however you can see some buildings by the shore which diversifies the local landscape. Head right and at the end of the lake enter one of the most charming but also the most difficult rivers on the trail –– Sobiepanka. Quite a fast current, numerous obstacles and bends, as well as frequent shallows make this section of the trip a real adventure. However, unusually clear water, shaded with trees on both banks, freshwater sponges and schools of fish on the bottom, which often jump into the kayak, make everyone amazed. After this difficult and astonishing section enter the small Lake Kujno, which ends at the mouth of the Grabówka River. This river is a bit wider and less wild, therefore it shouldn’t cause any problems. Its slow current allows you to relax and contemplate the surrounding nature. Lake Dłużec is the next stage of the trip and, as the name suggests, it takes a little longer to go across it as its course is fairly simple, though it’s not the shortest one. On its right shore you can see buildings in the Bobrowo village and on the left one –– peaceful meadows and fields. Once you go across the lake, enter the mouth of a short stream on the left, which will take you to the Lake Białe. Go between the island and the shore, and then take the narrow pass between the two isles and you’ll see the buildings of the PTTK riverside hostel in Bieńki, where this section of the trip ends.

Day 3: Bieńki–Spychowo (20 km)

As the previous section, this one starts on the lake, however you’ll leave it very soon. Follow the right shore of the Lake Białe and right after a small bridge enter the Dąbrówka river. It’s an amazingly beautiful and peaceful river that will astonish you with its delightful and diverse landscape. If you’re lucky, you can see the Masurian hummingbird or kingfisher. Go down the river until you enter the even more beautiful Lake Gant. On its both shores there is a huge spruce-pine forest, while on the water there are numerous white and yellow water lilies and common duckweed that forms colourful rugs on the blue surface of the lake. At the end of the lake, Bielik Eagle has its habitat, which quite often flies over tourists, allowing them to admire its majesty. The outflow from the lake is one of the most hidden on the trail. Head to the end of the lake and take the route through the middle of the reeds. Then you’ll see the pass leading to the Babięcka Struga river. This river is undeniably charming as well. It’ll lead you through a beautiful and changing landscape, allowing you to enjoy the cool shadow of the trees and the heat of the sun in swamps and meadows. Go with the current until you reach the Babięta village where you have to carry your kayak at the road bridge. Having carried your equipment, continue the trip down the Babięcka Struga, which will still impress you with its picturesque nature and change its face on this section. This time it is surrounded by small housings, however later you’ll enter the area of a wild landscape. Babięcka Struga ends in the Lake Zyzdrój Wielki. Initially, small settlements can be seen on the shores of the lake, then forests and meadows cover the shores alternately. At the end of the lake in the middle of it, there is the Island of Love, a very picturesque island with shores and a descent that allows you to swim in the lake. It’s worth stopping there for a moment and enjoy what it has to offer. Next, go past the island and head left where the Lake Zyzdrój Mały begins. However, despite its name (mały = small), you have to swim along as long section of the lake as in the case of the previous one. At the end of the lake, on the left peninsula, there is a resort –– Ośrodek na Cyplu. Having passed it, turn left and you’ll reach the Lalka Lock, which is unfortunately closed, however, it’ll provide you with some entertainment as you need to carry your kayaks once again. You are probably tired of the struggle with large lakes so at the end of today’s section you need to go down the easy Spychowska Struga river. It’s a short section of the river but extremely rich in waterfowl –– ducks, swans, gray herons and even extremely rare white herons. The river will take you to the PTTK river hostel in Spychowo, where this day ends.

Day 4: Spychowo– Krutyń (22 km)

If you start at Spychowska Struga, you enter the Spychowskie Lake for a while, however very soon you leave it behind. Remember to swim along its left shore and then follow the river current along the buildings of Spychowo. The river flows into Lake Zdrużno, which you leave very quickly behind as you turn right, just right by the reeds. Head left and enter the Lake Uplik –– a quite long lake surrounded by the forest. On its right shore there is a Czaplisko Reserve –– a reserve area where gray heron lives. Go under the road bridge, turn left and enter the wide Lake Mokre waters. It’s one of the biggest and the deepest lake on the route. Its fairly simple and wide basin seems to be endless at first, however, it’s not that scary at all... If the weather is good, you’ll be amazed how beautiful the Mokre Lake is, surrounded by the Puszcza Piska forest, which seems to be pristine once you pass the Zgon village. Sandy banks that slope gently create favourable conditions for bathing. Three isles on the lake are also stunning. It sometimes has its humours as well. In windy conditions, it can greet you with a pretty strong wave, which can bring a bit of trouble and prevent you from admiring the views. On the other hand, it will allow you to experience a real adventure, if you are not afraid of challenges. Usually in the afternoon the wind diminishes and allows you to calmly go through the lake. At the end of the lake, turn right and approach the dam. After a long trip through Lake Mokre you can stretch out there as you need to carry your kayak over to Lake Krutyńskie. Here begins one of the most beautiful stages of the route. Unlike Lake Mokre, Lake Krutyńskie is very narrow and winding. At first, it’s difficult do say whether its a river or a lake. The area of Lake Krutyńskie, along with the Krutynia river, up to the Krutyń village, is the area of a strict reserve of nature. This section will make you stunned with the nature’s diversity. Fallen trees, a landscape untouched by a man, rich vegetation, a huge amount of waterfowl and clear water, which allows to observe fish swimming under kayaks, makes the river seem completely wild here. Despite the many tourists, you might have the impression of being the first person to discover the area. Going down the river you slowly approach the first buildings of Krutyń. Pass a large concrete bridge and finish the today's adventure on the left bank of the river.

Day 5

On this day, we leave our kayaking equipment for a while and get onto bicycles to go on a unique trip along the forest roads of the Puszcza Piska forest. Plan of a bicycle trip around the Masurian Landscape Park. The trip begins in the Krutyń village at the seat of the As-Tour company. Having crossed the bridge on the Krutynia river, head to the Zakręt reserve. You can admire a forest untouched by a man there. It shows how the entire Masuria used to look. In this reserve you can observe a rare phenomenon –– dystrophic lakes with brownish and acidic water. You can also come across sundew there and interesting natural monuments. The most famous one is named a "Couple in Love” –– an old oak and a pine embracing each other with their branches. Having seen the Zakręt reserve, head to the Lake Mokre where you can enjoy some rest while sunbathing or swimming in the water. Once you’re ready to continue, ride along the lake to the Królewska Sosna reserve where one of the largest and oldest representatives of royal pines grow. Return to Krutyń leads along a pleasant road from where you can observe the river below. The entire trip takes approximately 3 hours.

In the afternoon you can enjoy an optional trip to the wild animals park in Kadzidłowo, where you can see deer, fallow deer, wild boars, beavers, wolves or a bison.

In the evening we offer sports and skill games with prizes (competition in traditional and hunting archery or darts).

Day 6: Krutyń–Nowy Most (19 km)

The Krutynia River will guide you trough this stage of the route. It’s one of the easiest and most pleasant parts of it. Start from Krutyń and after a kilometre or so you reach a water mill where you have to carry your kayak over. The mild stream and broad river bed make it easy to move around this section. You can flow with the current without fear and admire the surrounding nature not only on both banks, but also at the river bottom. The Krutynia vegetation is so lush that sometimes thick, green carpets of plants are formed on its surface. They’re willingly settled by flocks of multi-coloured dragonflies. The river flows through the wild landscape and few buildings, banks and meadows hidden in the trees. The landscape changes fast so you won’t get bored. The river will take you through local villages as well and through numerous pastures a reed band away from the water. You go by Wojnowo and reach Ukta. Once you leave Ukta behind, the Krutynia River changes. The riverbed is slightly narrower and often limited by fallen trees. There are alders, aspens, rowans and birches growing along the banks. Having passed Ukta, you go along the ruins of a railway bridge destroyed during World War II, and then on the right bank there’s PTTK Ukta. On the left one you’ll see the last lonely farm which means you enter the “Dolna Krutynia” reserve where no human activity is seen. The trees grow further from the banks which are densely covered with aquatic vegetation with many very rare species such as: orchids, sundews, lilies and pasque-flowers. Though the river is deep, the water is clear so you can observe underwater fauna and flora with some rare bird species such as white-tailed eagle, osprey, common crane, eagle owl, kingfisher or corncrake. The bends are numerous, though quite wide, and guide you to the village of Nowy Most. You pass along some buildings, PTTK Nowy Most on the right where you spend the night on the Perła Krutyni campsite.

Day 7: Nowy Most– Wygryny campsite (14 km)

And we’re back in the wild again. The riverbed spreads out, the trees grow densely along the banks and there are less reeds. You approach Lake Gardyńskie, where you need to take the right turn through the dense underwater vegetation. For just a moment, you enter Lake Malinówko, where you follow its left shore to go to Lake Jerzewko, which smoothly translates into the river again –– Iznocka Struga (also called Czarna Woda). The riverbed becomes very wide again, and the wooded banks are full of wide reeds and rushes. When approaching the village of Iznota, you pass several buildings, the most picturesque ones on the route, and then the river takes you to the Lake Bełdany. The landscape changes extremely and it differs from the current calm waters of the route. A huge area of water and countless white sails will welcome you on the Masurian shipping route. You must be careful, though, and watch out for larger vessels, including ships, to avoid collisions. This stage of the trip route consists of large lakes, including the Lake Bełdany. It is worth setting off early to avoid heavy traffic on the lake and queues at the lock. In the morning, the lake surface is usually very calm, which allows you to cross the lake without problems. The shore line is very diverse –– there are alternately woods and buildings. Numerous peninsulas and coves may make the lake seem smaller so the trip seems shorter as well. We reach the Wygyńska Bay where we stay for the night at the campsite.

Day 8: Wygryny–Ruciane -Nida (7 km)

Go past the Piaseczna Island and enter the increasingly narrowing part of the lake. Heading left pass the Guzianka resort and reach the lock. Set to the left side and wait for the green light to allow you to enter the gate. Having entered the lock, move towards one of the sloping walls and grab one of the lines. When the lock closes, it gradually fills with water until it rises you two metres up to the level of the next lake. From the lock head to the Lake Guzianka Mała and then straight ahead to the Lake Guzianka Wielka. Take the right-shore route which is the last, but very picturesque, part of your trip. You can see a strongly developed shoreline covered with dense forest on the right and a holiday resort on the left. Turn right and reach the town of Ruciane-Nida, at the very beginning of which there’s a yacht port –– "Faryj". Your trip ends here.

Characteristics of the Krutynia River route by sections:

• Lake Lampackie – Lake Krutyńskie (Krutynia river from the 102nd km to the 45th km): according to the scale of difficulty used in guidebooks –– T1a, e.g. a route suitable for beginners, very easy. Kayaking conditions: slow current, current without disturbances, no ships traffic. Very picturesque route.
• Krutynia river from the 45th km to the 15,5th km - T1b, e.g. a route suitable for beginners, easy. Kayaking conditions: small and regular rapids, slight thresholds, gentle bends, shallows and shoals. Very picturesque route.
• Lake Bełdany from the 15,5th km - T1, e.g.route suitable for beginners, very easy. Kayaking conditions: slow current, current without disturbances, no ships traffic or very irregular ships traffic. Very picturesque route.

Programme